Enhancing Your Home For Sale

At Royal LePage, our goal is to not simply sell your house, but to help you realize the best price obtainable for your property in the shortest period of time.

Successfully prepare your house for sale with these practical ideas. These suggestions require a minimum amount of time and expense to complete and are designed to make your house stand out from the competition.

The First Impression

You have probably heard how important first impressions can be. But did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale. The following is an outline of those elements which create the overall first impression, including suggestions on how to make sure the buyer reacts as favourably as possible.

Exterior

The Home Front

Your property’s landscape is not limited to the lawn and shrubs but encompasses everything from the street to your doorstep. For this reason, you must make sure each component of the visual landscape looks its best. The real estate industry refers to this as “curb appeal.”

Street: make sure the street in front of your house is free of littler and debris. In necessary, give it a fresh sweep.

Fire Hydrant: Although you do not own the fire hydrant in front of your house, you should still be concerned about how it looks. If it needs a freshening up, get permission from your town and paint it.

Sidewalk: sweep your sidewalk if needed and remove weeds that may be growing between cracks.

Fence: a freshly painted fence gives a home a crisp look. You should never let a peeling, tired-looking fence or squeaky gate stand between a prospective buyer and a positive first impression.

Mailbox/Light Fixtures: a quick painting of an old mailbox will let the buyer know you care about the details. If outdoor lamps look rusted and worn out, new ones will cast a positive light on your property.

Landscaping: neatly trimmed shrubs are essential. Taking the time to do this costs little, but has a big impact. Besides being freshly mowed and trimmed, a lawn should look healthy. If there are spots that look beyond help, a little sod goes a long way to restoring the look of a well-maintained lawn.

Front Walkway: like the sidewalk, the walkway should be clean and free of weeds. If sections are badly cracked, consider having them repaired.

Driveway: there are two elements of the driveway with which you should be concerned. The first is its surface condition. If stained or otherwise worn-looking, consider resealing it with a high quality sealer product. Second, is the appearance of the car parked in the driveway. A newly waxed, well-maintained automobile will make a much different statement about you and your property than an unattractive, poorly cared for car. If you think your car will be a detriment to the look of your property, park it down the street.

Paint: a fresh coat of paint can be one of the best investments you can make to increase the value of your property. If you do not want to spend the money to paint the entire house, consider just the shutters or the front of the house.

Siding: if you have vinyl or aluminum siding, have a cleaning service wash or repaint it using a product designed for these materials.

Windows: attractive windows can help increase the appeal of your property. Replace any cracked or broken glass Make sure the windows are sparkling clean. Add shutters to the front of your house Install window boxes with bright flowers Apply touch-up paint where needed

Roof: the roof may be the single most important aspect of your home front. A well-maintained roof will say a lot about the overall condition of the property Replace any broken or missing shingles or tiles Repair flashing where needed Paint eaves and fascia boards If the roof is old and needs to be replaced, consider having the work done before showing the property

Gutters/Downspouts: neat and trim-looking gutters and downspouts make a house look shipshape. Consider replacing highly visible ones if they are in need of serious repair. If run off areas are eroded, you can install concrete (or other) “spillways.”

Doorway: the doorway is the focal point of your house. Repaint the door Apply new door hardware Install a brass kick plate Replace house numbers Put a flower box or planter alongside the door Install a new front light fixture

Interior

Appeal to the Senses

There are many ways to create a more exciting and saleable interior, at surprisingly little cost. We will briefly discuss the sensory selling tools that can have enormous impact, then provide you with suggestions on how to improve each room.

Light: it is proven that people react more favourable to property shown under bright light than dark. The following steps should help you keep your room as bright as possible. Keep windows clean Use adequate wattage in light bulbs Consider replacing old fluorescent lamps with darken with use Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of light and space Use track lights to create a high-tech look Use light wall colours Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showing

Colour: a fundamental rule when selling your house is to keep colours neutral and light. The following are specific suggestions: White, beige and gray are the most popular exterior colours Shades of white, off-white and very light pastels are the safest choices for the interior Avoid highly patterned wallpaper whenever possible Try to limit bright colours to accents like fresh flowers, towels, area rugs and shower curtains

Sound: the sounds of peace and quiet are some of the best sounds to have when your home is being shown to a prospective buyer. But there are other sound considerations of which you should be aware. Avoid barking dogs and noisy children, if possible Also avoid sounds of work like vacuums, dishwashers and lawn mowers Make sure there are no sounds of mechanical problems like banging pipes or faulty appliances Light classical or instrumental music can be effective in creating a pleasing atmosphere

Smell: smell has more impact than you might expect. It can work for or against you. The smell of newness is positive. This scent can be achieved by applying a fresh coat of polyurethane to natural wood or latex paint to walls. The smell of cleanliness is important to the selling environment of your house. Beyond actually cleaning, lemon oil or lemon wax can create a lasting scent of freshness. Fresh flowers can be effective For a real heart warming touch, place a dish of vanilla in a warm oven to create the aroma of fresh baked cookies or bread Sweeten the refrigerator with a box of baking soda. Smells to avoid include strong pet odours, tobacco, cooking and oil or gas.

Packaging the Interior

Entry: the entry is where the first impression of the interior is created. Here you have the opportunity to make a big statement in a small area.

Repaint the entry using light, neutral colours

Move a prized antique or attractive furnishing to the entry, where it will have maximum impact

Apply a fresh coat of polyurethance to a wood floor

Tile or linoleum flooring showing shine Replace plastic switch pale covers with brass of porcelain A new hall light fixture can make a great impression

Make sure the room is well lit

Kitchen: the kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house. It can have a major impact on the value of your property. If your kitchen needs some real help, you may want to make extensive improvements. The following is a list of ideas to increase the appeal of your kitchen without spending a great deal of money.

Make sure the room is virtually spotless and smells fresh

Try putting a quarter section of a lemon in the disposal and grinding it up

Consider replacing outdated light fixtures with new track lighting

If your appliances are dated by colours like harvest gold or avocado, consider having them professionally refinished in a new colour like almond or plain white. This will make appliances look new at a fraction of the cost of actually replacing them

Spruce up kitchen cabinets by installing new knobs or hardware

If your cabinets look especially old, you can have a professional replace the doors or door fronts

Organize your kitchen cabinets to demonstrate how much room you have. Cabinet organizers are a good investment for this

Remove small kitchen appliances and gadgets from countertops to create an uncluttered look

Chipped or damaged countertops should be repaired or replaced

If your linoleum floor is badly worn, replace it with neutral no-wax flooring or tile

Bathroom: the bathroom has become an important selling feature in today’s home. It is a room that has moved from the utilitarian to the exciting. There are many ways you can improve deficiencies and create interest through various levels of enhancement.

Place a vase of fresh flowers on the vanity

Install a wall telephone for a high tech look

Replace an old toilet seat with a new one

Replace an old light fixture with a new style light strip or make-up light

Refinish an old porcelain tub using a porcelain finishing service

Place all personal care articles out of sight Freshen the air with lemon scented products

Replace an old towel rack with a new one

Add colour and richness with new towels and a shower curtain

Living Room: The living room is an area we do very little living in yet it is a major selling point of a house. Buyers look for elegant and impressive living rooms to make the right statements to their friends and relatives.

Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. The strategic placement of a mirror over a mantle or across from a window can make a room look brighter and larger

A fireplace is one feature that everyone can appreciate – show it off to its best advantage. Sweep it clean and make sure the screen is in good condition. If your house is being shown during the winter, make a cozy, crackling fire. During warmer months, you can dress up the hearth with fresh indoor plants or dried flowers

Clean windows and light fixtures Make sure all cosmetic plastic cracks are repaired. (This applies to every room in the house).

Use lemon oil on hardwood furniture to create the right look and aroma Liberal use of fresh flowers and plants will enhance the environment

Bedrooms: The bedrooms can do as much to sell your house as they can to turn off a buyer.

Make sure the bedrooms are absolutely spotless

Rugs should be cleaned, windows washed and fresh smells from flowers or lemon oil should be in the air

Organize closets to increase their perceived size. Rubberized wire closet organizers do a great job of helping fully utilize space

Mirrored closet doors can add dramatically to the feeling of size in any bedroom

Bedrooms should be well lit. you may want to add track lights in the master bedroom

A ceiling fan can be attractive and practical accent to any bedroom

Special Features

The Extra Details

Basement/Attic: The look of the basement and/or attic can say more about the condition of your house than you may think. A buyer who sees a meticulously clean and organized basement and/or attic will have much more confidence in your property than if it were in a state of disarray.

Paint a bare cement floor oil-based gray

Paint the stairway down to the basement and the stairway up to the attic

Clean the boiler of the furnace room as well as the heating plant

Make sure there are no signs of pest infestation. If needed, call in a pest control company to remedy the problem before the property is shown

Hang as many objects as possible on the walls to minimize floor clutter

Clean and organize your laundry area

Make sure all lights are working

Eliminate dampness with a dehumidifier

Garage: a well organized garage says a lot for your house.

Keep the garage neat and organized

Clean up any oil stains from your car

Paint the garage floor oil-based gray Install a garage door opener

Hang gardening tools and loose articles on the wall

Hold a garage sale to dispose of unused items that create clutter and may distract a potential buyer

Swimming Pool/Spa: the swimming pool or spa should be sparkling clean and in good operating condition.

Contact Us Today!

About Us

At Royal LePage Trinity Realty, Brokerage in Collingwood, Blue Mountains, Stayner and Wasaga Beach Ontario. Our REALTORS® will be with you through every step of the complex home buying & selling process.